Challah

See the video here!

This is an amazing bread served in Jewish homes to celebrate the Sabbath.  There are many variations used to celebrate over holidays and traditions however this easy formula will create a beautiful loaf  representing truth, peace, and justice.  If you make one using twelve strands it represents the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Baking it on a wood burning grill keeps it true to its tradition of being baked in wood burning ovens. 

4 cups unbleached bread flour

2 tblspns granulated sugar

1 tspn salt

1⅓ tspns instant yeast

2 tblspns vegetable oil

2 large eggs, slightly beaten

2 large egg yolks, slightly beaten

¾ cup + 2 tblspns of water at room temperature

2 egg whites, whisked for egg wash

Begin by placing your pizza stone in your grill, or oven, and setting the temperature to 350° F to pre-heat. Then mix all of your dry ingredients in a mixing bowl using your mixing paddle.

Once they are thoroughly mixed, mix your wet ingredients together and add to the dry.  Mix this thoroughly and then switch to your dough hook.

Knead with the dough hook on slow for 6 minutes.  While mixing coat the inside of a bowl with olive oil.  Once the dough is kneaded place it in the bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a towel and allow to rise for 1 hour.

After an hour dust your board with flour and place the dough on it.  Punch the dough down, kneading it by hand, for 2 minutes.  

Place the dough back in the bowl and cover.  Wait a further hour for the dough to rise. It should rise to 1 1/2 times its original size.  After the hour is up remove the dough and cut into 3 equal pieces.  Roll each of these out into long strands of equal length approximately 1 1/2" in diameter.

Once rolled out position the broads as shown in the picture below. With the braids facing you pick up the right braid and place it over the center braid.  Then pick up the left braid and place it over what is now the center braid.  Repeat until you reach the end.  Then pinch the ends together.  

Now rotate the board 180°.  Now you will repeat the same process except instead of placing the braids over the center braid you will place them under the center braid.

Continue until you reach the end and pinch the three braids together on this end as well.  Allow the bread to sit for 1 hour to proof.  After the hour brush the bread with the frosted egg whites and sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds.  These symbolize the manna the Israelites were fed by God when fleeing Egypt.

Using a peel move your loaf to your pre-heated pizza stone in the center of your grill and bake for 30 minutes.  Be sure to dust your stone with some corn meal or semolina.  After 30 minutes remove to a rack and allow to cool for 1 hour prior to serving.  

Cover with a challah cloth or towel when serving to represent the dew from heaven that protects the manna. Shabbat Shalom!